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Sunday, Sep. 18 '16, ט"ו באלול תשע"ו
HEADLINES:
1. NETANYAHU FENDS OFF CRITICISM OF DEFENSE AID AGREEMENT
2. AZARIYA TRIAL: 'DEFICIENT CONDUCT BY OFFICERS'
3. STOLEN CLOCK RETURNED 28 YEARS LATER
4. 'DO WE FIGHT FOR SHABBAT THE WAY RABBI KOOK WOULD?'
5. PALESTINIAN WOMAN ARMED WITH KNIFE ARRESTED
6. DOCTORS DECREASING PERES' SEDATIVE DOSAGE
7. WATCH: 'INTENTIONAL' MANHATTAN EXPLOSION CAUGHT ON VIDEO
8. WATCH: HILLARY CLINTON ADDRESSES NYC EXPLOSION
1. NETANYAHU FENDS OFF CRITICISM OF DEFENSE AID AGREEMENT
by Nitzan Keidar
At the Sunday morning weekly cabinet meeting, Netanyahu discussed public criticism of the defense aid agreement signed last week between the US and Israel.
"Last week we signed an aid agreement. Israel will receive 38 billion dollars," said Netanyahu." I hear all sorts of background noise and misinformation. I want to emphasize that we were never offered more - not even one dollar more. These are misrepresentations and fabrications of interested parties."
"The saddest thing is that they convey a lack of gratitude towards America. This is a record agreement and we should all bless it and be thankful to America for it."
MK Shelly Yachimovich (Zionist Union) responded to Netanyahu's statements regarding criticism of the deal: "The Prime Minister's harsh words directed against those who criticize the failings of the aid agreement and his accusation that they lack gratitude for the Americans is pathetic and out-of-touch. Netanyahu could give the entire political establishment lessons on ingratitude and irresponsible conduct toward Israel's most important and dedicated ally, the United States."
The Prime Minister also addressed the renewed wave of terror over the weekend.
"Towards the period of the High Holidays, the level of danger rises. The IDF and police are assembling more forces and will be on heightened alert.
"At the same time, our eyes are raised to the north. We do not want to open another front in the Golan Heights. Not there and not in any other place," added Netanyahu.
The Prime Minister then announced his intentions for his impending visit to the UN: "This week I will leave for the United Nations General Assembly where I will meet with world leaders including from African countries. And of course, at the United Nations General Assembly I will, as I do every year, present Israel's case to the world."
2. AZARIYA TRIAL: 'DEFICIENT CONDUCT BY OFFICERS'
by Shimon Cohen
Reserve General Danny Biton will testify for the defense in the Elor Azariya trial today. Biton told Channel 2 about his intended testimony - which will focus on the IDFs conduct at the scene - Sunday morning.
Azariya is on trial for shooting a terrorist who was lying on the ground wounded in Hevron.
Biton recounted several problems with the way Azariya's unit conducted operations in the area after the shooting incident. One of them was the fact that a briefing was conducted in the absence of several soldiers, with Azariya among them.
"The Company Commander arrived at the scene without securing it, without checking whether the terrorist was alive or dead, and without checking whether he had an explosive device on his person. By this conduct, the commander exposed his men to the threat of fire from the roofs or an explosion.
"He also conducted an initial investigation in the absence of the Platoon Commander [Azariya's more immediate commanding officer] and Azariya himself."
Biton wondered aloud in the interview if this is the norm we would like to see in the conduct of Company Commanders in the line of fire. The General then moved on to speak about the Battalion Commander's behavior.
According to Biton, the aforementioned officer said in his initial report that Azariya shot the terrorist while he was on the ground receiving medical attention, something that is clearly not true.
The Battalion Commander had also told media in the aftermath of the incident that none of the personnel in the area had felt any sense of danger, "but when you read the testimony from the soldiers and paramedic who were there at the time, you see that they were apprehensive."
As to the conduct of Azariya himself, Biton said that combat troops in an active scene must make decisions and act according to their assessment of the circumstances, and that there are two parameters that define the circumstances: intent by the enemy, and capacity. In this case, the intent of the terrorist was clearly established, while only the capacity was unknown.
According to Res. General Biton, the most important evidence in the case is the testimony of the Platoon Commander who was actually there at the time and was in charge of operations until more senior officers arrived. Yet, for some reason, his testimony has been "missed" as Biton puts it.
At the start of the interview, Biton said he wishes to emphasize that he isn't testifying for the sake of Azariya, but for the sake of the entire IDF.
3. STOLEN CLOCK RETURNED 28 YEARS LATER
by Yoel Domb
In the spirit of the month of Elul, a time for forgiveness and redemption in the Jewish tradition, an elderly man of Haredi appearance recently came to the Kastiel furniture store and returned to the saleswoman a clock which he had apparently stolen from there 28 years ago.
Alon Kastiel, a proprietor of the store, said in an interview with Channel 10 that the thief arrived in the store with a bag and a note attached and ran away after returning the clock.
The note said that "This item was stolen from the Kastiel furniture store in Hakishon street 28 years ago. The thief has repented and has returned the item to its owners. Thank you, sorry, please grant forgiveness and atonement."
Kastiel added; "My uncle vaguely remembered the thief. He came here himself and disappeared quickly."
Alon Kastiel remarked that this was not the first time that members of the store have seen stolen goods returned after many years. "It happens every three or four years. We suddenly get a bag back. Of course we forgive the thief," he added.
4. 'DO WE FIGHT FOR SHABBAT THE WAY RABBI KOOK WOULD?'
by Hezki Baruch
The Deputy Mayor of Jerusalem, Dov Kalmanovich, spoke today at the "Ma'alin Bakodesh" ("Increase holiness") conference organized by the Beit HaRav Kook (Rav Kook's home and Beit Midrash in central Jerusalem, which now houses a museum in his honor and an evening kollel) and the Hebrew weekly Besheva newspaper.
Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak Hacohen Kook (1865-1935) was the first Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Israel, a renowned Torah luminary, poet, mystic and philosopher who was the spiritual founder of Religious Zionism and founder of Merkaz Harav Yeshiva in Jerusalem.
The conference features speeches and discussions on the legacy and teachings of Rabbi Kook, and is being held in Jerusalem.
Kalmanovich recounted: "Rabbi Kook died of a serious illness after he returned from a conference for strengthening Shabbat. We, as those who claim to perpetuate his legacy, do we make enough noise about Shabbat? Do we fight for the holiness of Shabbat like Rabbi Kook did?"
"The battle isn't only in Tel Aviv or Jerusalem, rather it is a battle for the Jewish identity of the state of Israel," the Deputy Mayor claimed.
"I assume we're not doing enough about terrorism either," he added, "if the Rabbi would wake up this morning after the terror attacks that occurred on Shabbat he would have been shocked to the core. Not only politicians need to react to terror, Rabbis must as well."
"If Rabbi Kook were alive today, he would speak about terror, it would have burned in him like a fire. Why do we not hear Rabbinical voices today? We will continue walking in the Rabbi's path, and we hope that some small part of his strength and fortitude will rub off on us," Kalmanovich concluded.
Kalmanovitz was the first person to be wounded in a terror attack in the First Intifada. On January 31, 1988, an Arab boy threw a petrol bomb at him on the outskirts of Ramallah as he was making his way home.
Kalmanovitz was critically wounded with third-degree burns on 75% of his body. His life was saved when a passing driver stopped and rolled Kalmanovitz in sand, and he was then taken to the Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem. Despite his critical condition survived and subsequently underwent a long rehabilitation process.
Other speakers at the Conference include Torah luminaries of the Religious Zionist world such as Rabbi Zalman Baruch Melamed, Rabbi Chaim Druckman, Rabbi David Chai Hakohen, Rabbi Yaakov Filber and Rabbi Yaakov Shapira as well as Professor Shalom Rosenberg and Rabbi Yohanan Fried, CEO of the Museum at Beit HaRav..
5. PALESTINIAN WOMAN ARMED WITH KNIFE ARRESTED
by Arutz Sheva Staff
A young Palestinian woman was arrested in the early afternoon of Sunday after being seen advancing with a knife toward the town of Itamar in Samaria. There were no injuries in the incident.
The woman, a 23-year-old resident of nearby Awarta, was walking along the road near the town armed with a knife. When she spotted the Military Security Coordinator (MSC) of Itamar, she immediately dropped the knife.
The MSC arrested and handcuffed the young woman. Additional army and security personnel arrived in the area shortly afterward.
Yossi Dagan, head of the Samaria Regional Council, said in a statement in response to the incident: "We see again how contact between Israelis and Palestinians brings about terror attacks against Israelis. It's already been proven that there is no way to prevent attacks other than preventing the contact points, whether this is in buses, intersections, or hitchhiking points. I demand that the defense establishment do what is necessary to protect the towns. This time, the incident ended without injuries or casualties, but there is no guarantee that the result will be similar next time."
Over the weekend a spate of stabbing attacks and attempt occurred throughout Judea and Samaria.
The last incident happened in the early hours of Sunday morning in the town of Efrat. An IDF reserve officer was moderately wounded after a terrorist who infiltrated the town attacked him. The terrorist was then neutralized.
6. DOCTORS DECREASING PERES' SEDATIVE DOSAGE
by Ido Ben Porat
The doctors attending to former President Shimon Peres gave an update on Sunday afternoon saying that following a CT scan that showed no worsening of his condition the dosage of sedatives administered to Peres is being continually decreased.
Peres was rushed to the Sheba hospital in the Tel Hashomer medical complex (near Tel Aviv) five days ago after he suffered a stroke. He has been hospitalized in the ICU since then with his condition termed as serious but stable.
On Saturday night, President Reuven Rivlin visited the former President in the hospital. Rivlin was briefed on Peres' condition in detail and met the doctors who are treating him. The President hugged Peres' son and daughter Hemi and Tzviya, and had a lengthy conversation with longtime members of Peres' office staff.
In a statement to the media, Rivlin said: "In the Shabbat that just ended prayers were said around the world for the recovery of Shimon Peres. He is so present in public life, and does everything for the people and for me, who succeeded him in the office.
"We all hope and pray for an outcome in which we see the 9th President recover. We pray that we'll see the brave warrior Shimon Peres victorious in this fight," President Rivlin added.
7. WATCH: 'INTENTIONAL' MANHATTAN EXPLOSION CAUGHT ON VIDEO
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Mayor Bill de Blasio said at a news conference at the scene of the explosion that it was an "intentional act", but not connected to terrorism, as far as initial indications go.
The Mayor made sure to emphasize, however, that the investigation into the incident is only in its preliminary stages, and that additional information is expected.
Widespread shutdowns were conducted by the NYPD in the aftermath of the explosion, and what appears to be a second explosive device was found.
A pressure cooker with wires attached to it was located four blocks away from where the explosion occurred.
Mayor de Blasio said that the injuries caused by the blast were "significant" but that none of them were life-threatening, as of yet.
One city official told the New York Times on condition of anonymity that the explosion likely came from an improvised device. "We don't understand the target or the significance of it. It's by a pile of Dumpsters on a random sidewalk," the official added.
8. WATCH: HILLARY CLINTON ADDRESSES NYC EXPLOSION
by Shai Landesman
[youtube:2019252]
US Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton spoke to reporters on her plane Sunday, and addressed the spate of violent incidents, with an explosion in Manhattan injuring 29, another explosion in New Jersey, and a stabbing attack in a mall in St. Cloud, Minnesota. It is yet unclear if any of these attacks were terror-motivated.
"I've been briefed about bombings in New York and New Jersey and the attack in Minnesota. We need to support our first responders, and pray for the victims."
Clinton refrained from commenting about the potential background to the explosions. "Obviously, we need to wait until the end of the investigation. I'll have more to say about it when we actually know the facts."
Upon being asked to comment on her presidential campaign opponent Donald Trump's immediate reaction of calling the explosion "a bomb", Clinton responded diplomatically: "It's important to know the facts about any incident like this. It's important to wait for all the facts before coming to any conclusions, because we are just in the beginning of finding out what happened."
Conventional wisdom among pundits and commentators holds that any terrorist attacks, especially on US soil, favor Trump, who is viewed as being stronger on foreign policy and combatting terrorism. It must be reiterated, however, that there are thus far no indications as to terrorist motives behind the explosions, and the motives of the Minnesota stabber are also as yet unknown.
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